Chiefs puzzler: Why the longest punt of Tommy Townsend’s NFL career didn’t count as one
Tommy Townsend had never punted a ball farther in a game than he did during last weekend’s road showdown against the New York Jets.
But he won’t get credit for it. Not as a punt, anyway.
The punt came on a free kick after a safety during the Chiefs’ 23-20 victory, and Townsend truly launched it. Booted from the Chiefs’ 20-yard line, the ball sailed over the head of Jets return man (and former Chiefs receiver) Mecole Hardman, landing at the New York 2 before bouncing into the end zone.
That’s an 80-yard kick. But it doesn’t count as a punt. For statistical purposes, it was recorded as a kickoff. And the return yardage was counted as a kickoff return.
Regardless of how it’s noted in the NFL record books, Townsend couldn’t have struck it any better.
“I don’t remember anybody banging a touchback like that,” said Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub. “Any time you can start from that situation, kicking from the 20 and have their offense start at the 25, that’s a win. That’s a big win.”
The Chiefs surrendered the safety when Jawaan Taylor was penalized for grabbing an opponent’s facemask in the end zone — the first safety given up by the Chiefs since 2020. That was Townsend’s rookie year.
He was called upon to boot a couple of free kicks that season, but neither was as successful as the one he airmailed deep against the Jets.
“Free kicks are so weird,” Townsend said. “They’re so uncomfortable. There’s a different pace to the punt.”
Townsend said that punting, similar to when he’s holding for field goals and extra points, is triggered by the snap. Someone else starts the motion.
“With a punt after a safety, you’re just kind of out there with the ball in your hand,” Townsend said. “I felt a little extra pressure. ... As soon as I heard the whistle blow, I’m like, ‘Don’t think about it, just kick it.’”
Unfortunately for the Chiefs, the big kick didn’t stunt the Jets’ momentum at the time. They drove for a field goal to make it 17-5 and eventually tied the game.
Still, Townsend, who won All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors last season, did his job about as well as it could be done.